Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/119

 This soothed me somewhat.

"To-day," he went on, with a kind smile, "you have appeared in the former character. What you will be to-morrow is a mystery which I cannot fathom. Last Sunday, you were—" (he stopped suddenly).

"What was I then?" I asked eagerly.

He responded gravely, "Yourself."

I looked puzzled, as I felt.

"You wonder," he continued, with that look of quiet amusement which I had noticed before, "whether I mean charming or the reverse."

"I wonder nothing of the sort," said I quickly, with a warm color in my face.

"Think no more about it; for here comes the procession."

A number of priests, bearing banners, appeared below us; and every head in the crowd was uncovered, remaining so through the service, which lasted about fifteen minutes.

The priests were followed by officers, more priests, tattered flags, and the choir, which chanted all the time. They disappeared in the pavilion, and we could only hear the music. The cold was intense; and the men in the crowd rubbed their ears and their bare heads, as they listened in rapt devotion to the service.

Finding that I could see and hear nothing, I turned, expecting to find a vacant place, where George had been; but he was still there.

"I am so glad you have not gone," I cried, "for I have been intending to ask you a question for a long time, 8